The CEO’s Jet Broke Down Again — Her Assistant Whispered, “I Think She Just Wants the Mechanic Back”
Chapter 13
The following morning, Ava called an emergency board meeting.
Richard arrived expecting a frightened CEO.
Instead, he found Ava standing beside Mason.
Her father entered last.
Richard’s face went white.
“You.”
Ava watched him.
“Surprised?”
Richard looked around.
Then smiled.
“You have no idea what you’ve started.”
Ava placed the evidence on the table.
“I know exactly what I’ve started.”
One by one, the documents were projected onto the screen.
Fraudulent contracts.
Hidden payments.
Technology transfers.
Aircraft sabotage.
Richard’s name appeared repeatedly.
He remained silent.
Then he laughed.
“You think this ends with me?”
“No,” Ava said.
“It ends with everyone who helped you.”
The doors opened.
Federal investigators entered.
Richard’s smile vanished.
Ava’s father walked toward him.
“You destroyed my family.”
Richard’s voice became bitter.
“You were weak.”
“No.”
Ava’s father looked at him.
“I was afraid.”
Then he turned to his daughter.
“But she isn’t.”
Ava stood silently.
She had spent her life believing strength meant never showing fear.
Now she understood something different.
Strength could mean admitting who mattered.
The investigation lasted months.
Richard and the others were charged with multiple offenses.
Victor cooperated with investigators in exchange for leniency, though he still faced consequences for his role.
Sterling International survived.
But Ava changed it.
She removed the secret executive network.
Independent oversight was established.
Every aviation repair record became auditable.
And Mason?
He refused the position she offered him.
“You don’t want to come back?”
“I want to come back.”
She smiled.
“Then why say no?”
“Because I don’t want to be your employee.”
Ava looked at him.
“What do you want?”
He stepped closer.
“A real chance.”
She smiled.
“You have it.”
He kissed her.
Lily watched from the doorway.
“I knew it.”
Ava laughed.
“Knew what?”
“That the jet kept breaking down because somebody up there had a sense of humor.”
Mason laughed.
Ava shook her head.
“You’re impossible.”
“No,” Lily said.
“He’s the mechanic.”
Mason looked at Ava.
“And she’s the CEO.”
Ava smiled.
“Not when we’re alone.”
The jet was finally repaired.
But Ava never used it the same way again.
She stopped rushing through every flight.
She stopped measuring every minute.
And most importantly, she stopped pretending that some things could be replaced.
Especially people.
